Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for an arc of Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle. When Daphne dates a new guy, she always gets a piece of paper with a length of time that corresponds to how long her relationship will last. I have enjoyed all of Rebecca Serle's books. They are a bit chicklit and romance, while throwing in some magical realism. This book throws in a twist I didn't see coming and it made me like the book even more. I recommend reading this book and it is best to go in to unknown. Enjoy!

There was something about this book that made it so hard to put down. Right from the start the idea of this MC knowing everything about her relationships was an interesting idea that made me feel like I had to figure out how it worked. The characters were intricate and it didn’t take me long to need to see how it all resolved. It’s a short read and I didn’t see the twist at all that was coming. This book will tug at your emotions and make you realize sometimes we misunderstand the guidance we’re being shown.

Searle is so good at writing women's fiction and magical realism, she makes it look easy. A couple of solid twists and some gut punches---but still so hopeful.

The premise of this book sounded so intriguing- Daphne receives mysterious notes throughout her life telling her how long she will be in each of her relationships. What I really liked: the message that time spent in relationships that don't pan out is not wasted- we grow into the people we are meant to be and are shaped by the sum of our experiences. I do really like Rebecca Serle's writing and her unique, thought-provoking plots.

What didn't work as well for me: I was not particularly invested in ANY of the romantic relationships that Daphne had. Although I enjoy a good plot twist, the ones in this book felt jarring and disconnected to me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC. All opinions are my own. I was pleasantly surprised by Rebecca Serle's new novel. I thought I was predicting the ending early on but how you get there and the twists along the way were clever. The main character, Daphne Bell receives little slips of paper that tell her how long her relationships will last, until her date with Jake, when the paper is blank. It is an interesting concept to think about if you know how something will end, does that change how you act in the moment. I appreciated the use of her best friend Hugo and I think the storytelling leaves the reader with some interesting philosophical thoughts. It is still at heart, a light-hearted, comedic novel - a perfect beach/pool read or a curl up by the fire kind of book.

Daphne is looking for love but every time she meets a man, she receives a mysterious piece of paper with their name and how long that relationship will last. Then one day, the piece of paper only contains a name with no expiration date. Does this mean he is the one Daphne will spend the rest of her life with?
As their relationship progresses, Daphne begins to doubt that this is who she is supposed to spend her life with. How is she supposed to know? This was a new to me author, and I look forward to reading other books by her.

3.5 stars rounded up
I love Serle and all her novels usually sparkle to me, but this one fell a little flat. I didn’t connect with Daphne and thought the story was on the slower side. The concept was very original though, and the message of vulnerability and how scary that can be was well done.

I'm so torn between wanting just one more chapter and accepting that the ending was pretty spot-on. This story was an interesting take on dating with some unexpected twists. If you've ever thought about the role of agency and predetermination in your choices, this book will definitely give you some fresh perspectives.

Expiration Dates by ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Pub: March 5, 2024
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Daphne receives a piece of paper every time she meets her next fling telling her how long it will last. That is until she receives a note with just a name. Has she met the one?
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I know this one doesn’t come out for a while but when I received the ARC I squealed and had to read it immediately. You know when you can tell a line or scene was written from personal experience? That is how the entirety of Expiration Dates felt, with that added spark of magical realism we are accustomed to with Rebecca Serle. It was so relatable and real. If you’ve read any of her books you know they are anything but light and fluffy, so prepare for some emotional damage and grab the tissues. I fell in love with the characters and had so many moments where I related to Daphne. If you could know how long you would be with someone, would you want to know? Or would you rather it play out? |Brit|

Thank you to the publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.

I thought the premise of this was so interesting. Every time Daphne had a new date, she would receive a note with a man's name, and a date with the length of the relationship on it. That length would be weeks, months, years. One day she receives a note with just a name. Jake. No "expiration date".
It was very promising.
I didn't like that the story would jump around from present, to past "notes"/relationships. It was a bit confusing. I didn't understand the point of that.
Until half way through the book (literally at 51%), a zinger is thrown in. I couldn't understand why it was introduced so late in the book, and was really such a predominant part of the story . It made it harder for me to really connect and have any emotion towards it.
I was right about who she ends up with. I felt that near the beginning of the book.

It is a nice, quick read, and I think there are many out there that will really enjoy this. Give it a try

I really wanted to love this book. And there are some parts that were entertaining and interesting, but it just fell flat to my expectations of what I thought it would be.

I read this book in a day and I never looked back! The twist and the plot were pretty easy to identify but the different POV's kept me intrigued to see how everything was going to unfold. A couple of the characters were so unlikable that it made it hard to feel bad or connect with them in any way. I do wish that the ending would've given a little more, I wanted to know how the characters dealt with the aftermath.

Overall I give this 5 out 5 because it really was a great book and I will definitely read more from this Author. I enjoyed the thrill of the plot and its twists.

*I received a copy of this eARC via NetGalley*

A beautiful and exciting story! I loved the characters and was rooting for them the whole time. A must read!

I have loved every Rebecca Serle book I have read so far and this one is no exception. Serle has a fantastical way of twisting reality to explore very real themes. Expiration Dates is an empowering novel about dating and self-discovery. It follows Daphne who has received notes predicting the end of her relationships from the very first time she's had a significant other. It managed to surprise me right when I was sure I had predicted it. This book explores sensitive subjects and I would recommend checking the themes before going into this read, however it still managed to be an overall bright and happy read. It really made me look back on my experiences and think and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming pick me up.

Like any Rebecca Serle book, I devoured this one in a couple of days. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Since her childhood, Daphne has received little slips of paper that contain a name and a length of time pertaining to romantic inerests. One day she gets a slip of paper that only has the name "Jake" on it, but no duration of time. But as her relationship evolves with Jake, she starts to question if this truly "the one."

I thought this was such a fun read, and the romance was wholesome. I do think the characters were lacking a little depth, but that is probably my only complaint. Overall it was lighthearted and had a good plot!

Thanks Netgalley and Atria books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

At first I wasn't sure what to make of this book, and to be honest I'm still not fully sure. I thought the concept was interesting, and I enjoyed reading it. I just felt like sometimes things were introduced and then dropped, or not fully explained. I still don't really understand the whole slip of paper with lengths of time, but maybe that was the point. I think this is a good book for those who enjoyed Rebecca Serle's previous books, it fits will with her other books and was enjoyable. It just wasn't my favorite of hers, but it was good. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

I couldn’t put this one down - I devoured this in less than a weekend! This was my third Rebecca Serle book, and while I really enjoyed it, I still think my favorite is In Five Years.



Since childhood, Daphne has had a secret gift: every time she meets a romantic interest, she receives a paper with his name on it and the duration of their relationship. After she meets Jake, she receives a note with no expiration date attached. As Daphne’s relationship with Jake grows, she begins to doubt her past and what it means to be in a relationship, especially given who she is.



I absolutely loved the premise of this book. I am grateful that I went into this with no spoilers, since I definitely did not see all of them coming; it really kept me engaged and definitely had me in my feels. I also appreciated how the story was sprinkled with flashbacks into Daphne’s previous relationships, including that of her former boyfriend-turned-best friend, Hugo. The flashbacks really added to Daphne’s development as a character and what it means to be in a romantic relationship when you know there’s an end date. I did have some mixed emotions about the ending, especially since I am not sure if I felt fully bought into it. Overall, an engaging beach read for 2024!



Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC!

Great idea for a novel! Serle did a great job for LA tourism too. I wanted to visit and eat at the fantastic restaurants and drive up the coast. What I didn’t enjoy, the main character. She wasn’t very fleshed out and I got the sense throughout that I had missed the first book in the series and didn’t have the connection to the characters because of it. The flashbacks to previous relationships didn’t build the story up and nothing went deep enough. It left me feeling flat and not invested in how it ended. This author has the skill to create something so much better than this.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Hmm…I seem to be having conflicting feelings about this book. While it was a sweet story with a unique concept, there were some things that bothered me. All this said, if I didn’t have a “critical eye” I may not have cared so much about certain aspects, but it could have just added a star to the overall review, at most.

Things I liked: the unique concept of the book and how Rebecca Serle adds a touch of magical realism, but in no way goes over the top. I appreciate this, and I loved the expiration dates idea. Daphne as a character, and her boss. The overall message of the book; us having control of our lives and our happiness, listening to our hearts, opening up to those who love us and being honest, etc. How short and sweet the book is (I read in one sitting).

Things I didn’t like as much: detailed descriptions of people’s outfits, that did not add dimension to the story at all. Hugo’s “growth” (or lack thereof”; if we are meant to believe he has growth, it should have been shown in some way. Jake as a character: while I LOVE how sweet and thoughtful he is, his personality fell flat, and seemed to only be in the story as an ideal marriage prospect and not an actual character. The big revelation more than halfway through the book that then pulls focus until the end; if it’s going to be that important, it should be announced earlier.

Overall: we’re there things I would change? Sure. Was it short and sweet and overall cute with a good message? Yes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my favourite Rebecca Serle book I've read so far! With a unique premise this was an easy to read romance and I read it in a few days.

Daphne has secrets but for now she's looking for the one. She's always wanted to find that special someone who she could spend her life with but she's had no luck so far. Since she was in middle school she's been receiving notes that say how long her romantic relationships will last. The notes looks different and show up in different ways but they always have a name and a timeframe. Except for this time, there's only a name and she thinks that this will be her last first date.

I really loved this romance book and felt it was a fun read with an added twist of Daphne knowing how long her relationships will last. The side characters added to the book and I liked Daphne's friends and family adding to the plot. I felt the ending was just right and liked that Daphne found her own way. I don't want to give away too much but I'd recommend Expiration Dates!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Wow, I did not expect to love this as much as I did, or cry so thoroughly. This starts off as frivolous and cute; it’s relatively short and fast-paced. There are a lot of details that aren’t really important but they connect you to the character and her experience. And then, there’s this big reveal, this secret that was kept from the reader, even through first person POV and it instantly transforms the story into something deep, and meaningful and beautiful. It makes you stop and reconsider everything you’ve read up until that point and reading each subsequent chapter on tenterhooks.

Murphy, the dog, although just a side character in the story was such an important character. I loved his personality, the descriptors used for his personality, and the relationship between Daphne and her dog. Any dog-lover or dog-parent could so easily find themselves in this story through this connection alone.

If I’m honest, I wanted a lot more. Even just one more chapter would have done the trick. The ending is implied, but I feel like through all that grief, it would have been nice to see some joy at the end, some more of the choice to be together and the road back. I was satisfied but not fully satiated.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review this title.